Civic Engagement

Education matters. But what does this statement really mean? For the 2014-15 academic
year, Bluffton University faculty, staff and students will tackle this important question
across the full range of personal, societal and global issues.

Author of summer reading to speak at opening convocationWe are particularly pleased that Ken Bain will be our convocation speaker on Aug.
28. Because of his schedule, convocation is shifted to THURSDAY, Aug. 28. First-year
students will be reading Bain's What the Best College Students Do as their summer reading text. Bluffton faculty have been studying Bain's What the Best College Teachers Doover the past year. A faculty workshop with Bain will likely be held on Thursday
afternoon.

Civic Engagement ThemeThroughout academic year 2014-15, we will discuss the conditions that best support
learning and the obstacles to significant learning. Then we will think together how
we can help all people experience the benefits of learning. For instance, what factors
currently determine the value of a formal education—and are they the right ones or
do we need alternatives? What is the relationship between learning, employment and
professional success? Why is public investment in education declining, and what level
of investment is required to achieve individual, community and national objectives?
Is a college education worth it? What does it mean to be an educated citizen? What
is the impact of disparities in access to quality education in the U.S. and around
the world on social and economic inequality? We welcome broad participation as we
seek to learn for life as well as vocation.

Kate Spike will be our civic engagement theme lecturer this year. Her presentation title is:
“Living and Learning in the Contact Zone.” As Kate explains in her proposal, “the
term ‘contact zone’ refers to any time two cultures and/or languages come into contact
with one another.” In Kate’s presentation she will demonstrate that “it is in this
alternating discomfort, excitement, and confusion of the contact zone that we find
ourselves stretched and learning.” She will give her presentation at the Presidential
Scholarship Competition in January and at the civic engagement forum in March.

Civic Engagement Forum

Kate Spike will present her lecture on “Living and Learning in the Contact Zone." In Kate’s presentation she will demonstrate that “it is in this alternating discomfort,
excitement, and confusion of the contact zone that we find ourselves stretched and
learning."

Summer reading

"These movers and shakers didn't achieve success by making success their goal. For
them, it was a byproduct of following their intellectual curiosity..." Ken Bain'sWhat the Best College Students Do is required summer reading for all first-year students.

Deeper Learning

Ken Bain, author of “What the Best College Students Do” spoke at Opening Convocation
which also kicked off the 2014-15 civic engagement theme, “Education Matters! Learning
for Life, Vocation and Responsible Citizenship.”>>>More